24 March 2020
Peter Aldous seeks clarification on the definition of essential retail

Peter Aldous seeks clarification from the Secretary of State for Health on the definition of essential retail.

Peter Aldous MP speaking in the House of Commons

Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con)

I commend my right hon. Friend for the sterling work he is doing. Will he provide some clarification on the definition of essential retail? The general store that purchases a freezer and says that it is a food store quite clearly is not, but the garden centre that incorporates a farm shop that may serve a local community might well be.

Matt Hancock

These things will inevitably end up being a judgment at the boundary, but if there are two types of shop in one organisation, we will sometimes require some parts of it to close. If there is a café in a shop that sells essential supplies, the café must close but the essential-supplies part can stay open.

Hansard

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